#osf2019

[jessicajko]

“I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it.” After 104 performances of #AsYouLikeItOSF, we’ve left the Forest of Arden. As it’s been painfully obvious, I have loved this role, this show, & this company so much. I will forever cherish the lessons I’ve learned, the growth I’ve had as an actor & person, the strength & stamina I’ve developed, and the precious time I’ve willingly wasted with this incredible group of humans. (Side note from this nostalgia: I’m pretty proud of my skills in photoshopping @shauntc37 into our closing night group pic. 😆) As Rosa said last night at our post-show toast, that’s not the case everywhere. But it’s a testament to this place & exceptional repertory company when I can truly say that every role, show, & cast/crew I’ve had here just kept getting more & more special, burrowing deeper into my heart & soul with each surpassing year. 3 seasons, 30 months, 6 shows, all 3 stages, 424 total performances— it’s hard to believe that I got lightning in a bottle that often, but my bursting heart is the evidence & I will never take my time here for granted. I am forever changed. @osfashland: Thank you for being my #ArtisticHomeForLife. ❤️ #OSF2019 #theatrefamily (at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4JDy5WJhH8/?igshid=1uxl6qi58rrsd

[jessicajko]

::2 SHOW LEFT:: #AsYouLikeItOSF The last birthdays to celebrate for #OSF2019 that are really in 2020! Also, as the last one, our 1st attempt at the song was an abysmal way to end our birthday celebrations, so I obviously made us do it again & do it RIGHT. 😆 JAN. 7, Show #102: @sonofagregor — Silvius is the first non-court Arden-ite the audience meets & MacGregor makes a lasting impression as he portrays Silvius’ deep love of love, running off stage crying out Phoebe’s name repeatedly— a moment that tickles the audience every time bc of the complete abandon & passion MacGregor commits to onstage. As an actor who also likes to throws herself literally & figuratively into a role, it’s been fun to watch him calmly walking around backstage, then see him burst into our scenes, leaving it all on the floor— literally, he collapses very dexterously in a heap at one point in anguish. I’m excited to see what new heights MacGregor’s zeal & focus will take him. JAN. 11, Show #102: Erica Sullivan— the unique aspect of being at @osfashland is the built-in history & legacy of past generations you step into, especially when cast in a Shakespeare play. This season, we have 4 Rosalinds in the company at the same time— Linda Alper, @miriamalaube, Erica, & me— a lineage spanning over 3 decades. Playing Rosalind in the same show as the actor who played her here last was a bit nerve-wracking at first, but Erica quickly dispelled any misgivings with her gentle heart, kindness, warmth, & nurturing soul. She had absolutely no ego about that & in general about anything, which was so refreshing. Her easygoing nature & genuine care enveloped me like a warm cocoon. I love the scene we share as Jacques & Rosalind— it’s a moment when the two characters connect on a real level as people &, in our show, as women. & Erica makes it easy to do so bc she is so emotionally available & simply authentic. All I have to do is take her in & my eyes can’t help but well up in tears. I cherish & respect her so much as a giving scene partner, gracious cast mate, & fellow Rosalind, but also as a deeply loving friend I know I’ll have for life. #OSF2019 #ArtisticHomeForLife #theatrefamily (at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4BNmGYD0pl/?igshid=uxi0dw3p2g92

[jessicajko]

My favorite Aunt/Sookmo/숙모 finally came to visit me from Houston in the nick of time, not being able to the last 2 years. She got to see me act in my dream role, fell in love with this small town life & the Oregon fall weather & foliage, & was even able to tinker on the ivories at HPRC & what she called “doodle” a bit on a rare track organ at the Trinity Episcopal Church. Having this special one-on-one time made me truly appreciate in a deeper way how rare & precious she is to me, that she actually was the 1st family member I know to have seriously pursued a life in the arts, completing her PhD in organ performance & having a past life as a child piano prodigy in Korea. I’m grateful that as a musician, she understands what I do & even the intricacies of how I do it, like breath support, the physical stamina needed to perform, & the artist’s brain. Her visit was just the boost I needed to finish this last week of #OSF2019 well. ❤️ #family가족 meets #theatrefamily #AsYouLikeItOSF #ArtisticHomeForLife (at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B33LZAOpf1f/?igshid=pn1hebjofu7e

[jessicajko]

::4 SHOWS LEFT:: #AsYouLikeItOSF OCT. 6, Show #95: @shauntc37— Happy Closing, Shaun! Today is actually his last day w/ us, leaving early to be perform off-Broadway in @theatre.bedlam’s THE CRUCIBLE & then to the @lyrictheatre in Oklahoma to world premiere his own original musical, DISTANT THUNDER, which he wrote & will star in. He’s another fellow 3rd year OSFer & it was an absolute joy to have worked w/ him for 2 of those years, in #HenryVOSF & again this year. Eternally youthful inside & out, Shaun brings fun to the process & puts his gleeful stamp on everything he does— or “Shaun things!” 😆 Always brimming w/ ideas & boundless energy, he relishes in finding good bits, the ones that really tickle him, like in our few special moments as Rosalind & Oliver, & constantly looks to refine them, even 100 shows in. He’s pure talent, head to toe, w/ the singing voice of an angel, & the heart of one too. Tho he’s already achieved so much in his career, even before OSF— he remains humble, open, & hungry to keep growing & learning. I’ll miss my brother & friend, but can’t wait to see him continue to rise to even higher levels that match his talent & passion. OCT. 12, Show #98: @wwilhelm— I’m so thankful that I got to work & live life w/ Will this whole season. From the start, I felt an instant kinship to them. It also helped that we lived right next door to each other! They are warm & open yet take no BS & suffer no fools. I love how they brought AuBrey to life, giving them agency & strength whereas normally AuDrey can be made the butt of bawdy jokes, given only a few lines & as a mere plot device for Touchstone. But as they do in life, Will took charge & made sure Aubrey had a literal voice & substantive arc as well as a strong stage presence, which Will already has in spades. Whenever they go, the brightness of who they are will keep being a beacon to others & their relentless drive & sharp wit leave no doubt that they’ll achieve anything they put their mind to. I’m just fortunate to have found such a dear friend who I can count on for hikes, board games, lake trips, raucous laughter, or a night in w/ a glass of wine. #OSF2019 #ArtisticHomeForLife #theatrefamily (at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3x2KF7Jmvj/?igshid=nv67nmut1e70

[jessicajko]

Happy 100th show, #AsYouLikeItOSF! I think you already know how I feel about you. ❤️ #OSF2019 #ArtisticHomeForLife #theatrefamily (at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3vpbeTp6fB/?igshid=18dc1cgfbkufl

[jessicajko]

::5 SHOWS LEFT:: #AsYouLikeItOSF A few bdays we missed bc some didn’t want the attention. Not surprisingly, it’s the ppl who aren’t seen onstage but without whom the show literally couldn’t run— :WARDROBE & WIGS: SEPT 11, Show #85: @therealerincollins— Erin had taken her name off the bday list. But I thought we missed it, so @tyronewilsonactor & I quickly mobilized. Luckily she let us sing to her. “Auntie E” likes to act tough but has a heart of gold, bringing me homemade broth when I was battling a cold & checking in to remind me to be kind to myself when I didn’t feel good about a show. Together w/ our other dresser, Cara Wade who’s serene, gentle, & sweet, they’re the dream team— or my fave Odd Couple? 😆 As I frantically dry my sweat btwn scenes w/ the industrial fan, ice packs, & towels at their table, their relaxed energy coupled w/ their hilarious banter centers me & keeps me from taking myself too seriously. Amber Moldrem as our wig technician also instills that calm, due to the expertise she swiftly wields (I LOVE my tight bun), always w/ a bright smile & cheerful word. :STAGE MGMT: OCT. 1, Show #93: Chris Bolender— as ASM, Chris ensures it all runs smoothly backstage, w/ a chill demeanor & good humor. He’s also THE resident pickle guy. He can’t close the show w/ us bc of another job, but Karl Alphonso will join the fam as Chris’s WONDERstudy, & also hails from Philly! Jeremy Eisen & @robinsonemilyr are quite special to me, being w/ them for 2 years now, 1st in #SnowInMidsummerOSF. Tho Emily was ASM for just the build of As You, her vital work set the rhythm & tone for our show. You want her in a room & in your life, w/ her warmth & light. She’ll 4ever be my Spoop & I her Spoopy ghost. 👻 Jeremy & Emily are ROCKS you can rely on, meticulous, able to anticipate the needs of the show & actors, & cool under pressure. PSM Jeremy’s known for his diligence in maintaining a show’s integrity & consistency, which is no easy feat for 8 months. But even w/ literally the whole show to run, he still checks to see how I’m doing & asks if I have any notes for him— which I never do bc he’s truly the gold standard. #OSF2019 #ArtisticHomeForLife #theatrefamily (at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3uhUldJhVy/?igshid=gw8ns04juo81

[jessicajko]

::6 SHOWS LEFT:: #AsYouLikeItOSF Celebrating our WONDERSTUDIES! How fitting that I planned this for today & @native_samurai is now going on for Orlando tonight! Our show was thrown quite a few curveballs (& put-in’s) but thank GOD for our rockstar roster of revolving cast members. Caroline Shaffer as CORIN: she was brought on to build the show & stay until May when Sheila could join us. She conscientiously created the character w/ Sheila in mind, while making it her own for the time being. Then graciously handed off the proverbial staff w/ no ego & made sure Sheila was set up for success. Now that’s the mark of a true professional, ensemble member, & all-around good human. Nancy Rodriguez as CELIA: I’ve already shared my love for her but I’ll keep singing her praises, as a joy to work w/ those 3 mos & a caring friend. She’s the embodiment of light & love. I’m lucky to have 2 sweet coz’s. @kollurious as CHARLES THE WRESTLER/OLIVER MARTEXT: our 1st unplanned u/s, he really saved us when @james_ryen had to be pulled away to support @cambodianrockband’s own need for a recurring u/s. Tho Derek’s part of the artistic staff, he’s also a trained actor & seamlessly stepped in, performing 14 times w/ us. @hannfaw as PHOEBE: an internal u/s, Hannah KILLED IT. At one moment, she delivered a line so deadpan funny looking up at me w/ bright eyes, that I fumbled my next line! But my fave moment was when I exited down the vom after our 1st scene together & found our cast & crew huddled to watch & cheer her on. @clsparrow as LADY TO ROSALIND/ARDEN-ITE: one of the most hardest-working actors here, ours was her 5th of 9 tracks she’s had to do! Being the pro she is, it was like Cass was part of our show all along. She’s my fellow @circleinthesquaretheatreschool alum & a true quadruple threat— acting, singing, dancing, & Shakespearean skills. @native_samurai as ORLANDO & OLIVER: Derek will be doing 4 of our remaining 6 shows, closing w/ us as Oliver. He’s been preparing for that for months now but I’m even more impressed how ready he also is for Orlando, tho he was given such short notice. Can’t wait to play w/ him soon! #OSF2019 #ArtisticHomeForLife #theatrefamily (at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3pjjhOp0BI/?igshid=k0xu1fj056yx

[jessicajko]

Last night, part 2: More from Martino’s & backstage. I’m breaking my one post a day rule, but I’m feeling nostalgic... #OSF2019 #ArtisticHomeForLife #theatrefamily #WeRunThisBitch #WeAreSuchStuffAsDreamsAreMadeOn (at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3nwigwJw8G/?igshid=yiax7te7rq4h